Propelling apparatus for boats.



PATENTED JAN. 14. 1908.

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JQHIT Ulm? Snecma L7M/@QAM J. A. MOILWEE. PROPBLLING APPARATUS APoRBOATS,

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APPLIOATIDH FILED SEPT..16,1907.

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PATENTED JAN. 14, 19.08.

J. A. MOILWEE, PROPELLING APPARATUS .FOR BOATS.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lvwentoz APPLICATION FILED SEPT.16,1907.

wi h1 uns Gnomz JAMES A. MCILWEE, OF CRIPPLE CREEK, COLORADO.

PROPELLING APPARATUS FOR BOATS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentedaan. 14,1908.

Application filed September 16. 1907. Serial No. 393.203.

T o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. MeLwnn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cripple Creek, in the county of Teller and State ofColorado, have invented a new and useful Propelling Apparatus for Boats,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to propelling aparatus for boats and its objectis to provide paddle Wheels designed for use in connection with smallboats and having mechanism whereby said wheels can be convenientlyactuated by an occupant of the boat.

A still Afurther object is to provide means whereby either or bothpaddle wheels used can be placed in or out of operative relation withthe driving mechanism.

A still further object is to provide simple means whereby either orAboth of the paddle Wheels can be locked against rotation.

Another object is to provide simple mechanisni by means of which theperson operating the boat can at the same time steer it.

l/Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction and combinations of parts which will behereinafter more Vfully de# scribed and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of theinvention.

In said drawings: Figure l is a plan view of a boat embodying thepresent improvements, a portion of one of the paddle boxes and paddlewheels being broken away. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. F ig. 3 is anenlarged elevation of one of the clutch members and its actuating lever.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, l designates a boatof any preferred construction having oppositely arranged seats 2 thereinadjacent the center of the boat and located below and in front of therear seat is a centrally fulcru med steering lever 3 connect-ed by meansof cables 4 with oppositely extending arms 5 within the stern of theboat and secured to and movable with the rudder 6. The end portions oflever 3 constitute foot rests as indicated at 7 so that the personoccupying the Arear seat 2 can place his feet upon the rests 7 andreadily steer the boat. Extending laterally from and secured to thegunwales of the boat are paddle boxes S preferably substantiallysemieylindrical in form and open at the bottom and Within each paddlebox is journaled j a shaft l l l l l j l l l l s 9 having ears l()radiating therefrom. To each ear is bolted or otherwise fastened apaddle 11 the inner end of which is of less width than the outer endthereof. Each paddle has ears 12 extending from one face thereof andbolted or otherwise fastened to reinforcing rings 13 which are arrangedconcentric with shaft 9.

Each shaft 2) extends a short distance into the boat and feathered uponthe inner portion thereof is a sleeve 14 having an annular groove 15 anda disk-like head 1.6. Teeth 17 extend from the inner faces of the disksand projections 1S extend from the outer faces thereof. An inclinedlever 19 is fulerumed below each shaft t) and has a projection 2Odesigned to project into groove 15.

Standards 2l. are secured within the boat and journaled within them is ashaft 22 disposed in alinement with the shafts 2) and pro# vided at eaehend with a toothed clutch member 23 which is ilixedly secured to theshaft and designed to be engaged by the teeth 17 of the adjoining disklo'. A crank 24 is formed by that portion of the shaft .22 between thestandards and extends through slots 25 formed in a lever 2G which isfulfrumed below the shaft as shown at 27. The upper portion of the leverhas handles "2S whereby the same can. be conveniently oseillated by aperson or persons occupying the seats 2.

In using the mechanism herein described it is to be understood that thesame may be actuated either by one or two persons occupying the seats 2.lf one person alone is to operate the boat it will be necessary for himto assume the rear seat 2 so that by placing his feet upon the rests 7it would be possible to steer the boat as well as to propel it. Bypulling the .levers 10 inwardly toward the center of the boat the disks1.6 can be shifted so that their teeth 1.7 will engage the clutchmembers 23. By oscillating the handles 2S crank 24 will be rotated andcause a correspending movement of the shafts and 'paddle wheels. As thelevers 1.) can be independently actuated it will be obvious that eitheror both of the paddle wheels can be placed in operative relation withthe driving mechanism. Should it be desired to lock either or both ofthe wheels against movement, as when it is desired to quickly turn orstop the boat, the levers 1) are swung outwardly until one of theprojections 1S on each disk 16 is caused to lap the adjoining leverWhereupon said lever will act as a lock to prevent further rotation ofthe disk and paddles.

lt will be seen that with this apparatus a considerable of speedrotation of the paddle wheels can be obtained and the boat can bereadily propelled either backward or forward. Should the crank assume aposition at a dead center it can be quickly moved by placing a foot uponthe crank and pushingl it downward.

/Vhat is claimed is:

l. The combination with a boat having'v oppositely disposed seats g of adrive shaft interposed between the seats and having a crank, oscillatorymeans interposed between the seats and engaging the crank for rotatingthe shafts, paddle wheels at the sides of the boat, a lever for placingeither of said wheels in or out of operative relation with the driveshaft, and means disposed to be engaged by each lever to lock the wheelsagainst movement.

2. The combination with a boat of a drive' shaft journaled therein,means for rotating the shaft, clutch members revoluble with the endportions of the shaft,jshafts projecting beyond and alining with thelirst mentioned shaft, paddles carried thereby, clutch members slidablyengaging the projecting shafts, oscillatory means disposed when moved inone direction to shift the slidable clutch member into engagement withthe adjoining clutch member of the drive shaft, and when shifted in theopposite direction to uncouple the clutch members and engage theslidable clutch member to lock it and its shaft against rotation.

.3. rl`he combination with a boat, paddle shafts journaled thereon, anda drive shaft of a clutch member movably mounted upon each paddle shaft,and means disposed when moved in one direction to couple said memberwith the drive shaft, and when moved in the opposite direction touncouple said member from the drive shaft and place it in engagementwith said means shaft against rotation.

ln testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES A. MCILWEE.

Vitnesses:

J. B. ROERIG, E. J. /VHITE.

to lock the paddle

